Tag Archives: Aftab Siddiqui

by | March 16, 2023 · 09:34

Borough Road War Memorial: Two new additions

Borough Road War Memorial College Plaque 3.3.2023

A new plaque was unveiled at Borough Road War Memorial on 3 March 2023 by the 57th Mayor of the London Borough of Hounslow, Councillor Raghwinder Siddhu.  He was accompanied by residents, pupils (including talented bugler, Max), staff and trustees of Isleworth and Syon School, former Borough Road College lecturer, John Hunter, and Osterley and Spring Grove Ward Councillors Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri and Aftab Siddiqui.

The Mayor and locals at the Borough Road War Memorial Plaque unveiling 3.3.2023

It records the names of former Borough Road College staff and students who gave up their jobs and education to take part in World War I and World War II, killed and never returned.

The installation features an engraving and faces Lancaster House, the main college building vacated in 2006, nine years after its takeover by Brunel University, and crest of the college.

Borough Road War Memorial unveiled 14 May 1921

I raised the idea for this new plaque in 2018 because the names of those who perished were not visible locally as Brunel University had previously removed an indoor memorial to its Uxbridge campus.  During 2015, Brunel had made approaches to Hounslow Council to completely relocate the whole, almost 100 years old stone memorial too but this failed as it was strongly resisted by all Ward councillors at the time.

At Borough Road War Memorial: Restored Heston and Isleworth Borough Council light column

This memorial project also coincides with the installation of a rediscovered and then refurbished lamppost of the former Heston and Isleworth Borough Council, restored and recently installed by Hounslow Highways.

The names of the dead were shared by the Brunel University London Archives whose 2014 research is available via a QR code present on the plaque allowing access of detailed biographies of those named.

I am grateful to Miss Helen Bowman, Conservation Officer at the War Memorials Trust, whose sound advice helped us bat away Brunel’s cheeky claim; Vanessa Bevilacqua and colleagues from the Hounslow Council Transport Team for procuring the plaque; Sabeel Khan of the Hounslow Council Highways PFI Team for overseeing Hounslow Highways’ renewal and connecting of the light column; Hounslow Council Communications Team’s Mr Yagnesh Nakaraja for sharing pictures.

TL 16.3.2023

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by | November 12, 2022 · 03:56

Local traffic surveys

As intrigued as numerous residents raising the matter with Osterley and Spring Grove councillors, inquiries were made of the council’s traffic team regarding the counting hardware appearing on roads in the southern part of the Ward.  Here’s what has been learnt so far.

Ridgeway Road: Traffic survey camera on a pole measuring bicycle and pedestrian directions.

Residents from different parts of our Ward often contact council officers and councillors about speeding and rat running, for example; Osterley Road is a regular as is Northumberland Avenue and, lately, The Grove.

All of the roads mentioned fall within the area of Spring Grove and North Isleworth that is currently under review for potential traffic reduction measures, broadly all roads to the south of A4, north of A315 London Road, west of Syon Lane and east of the Piccadilly Line.

Wood Lane: Pneumatic strip counter measuring vehicle numbers

Officers have advised that this is a multi-year project with the surveys, background and feasibility work being undertaken this financial year (to April 2023).  For the next financial year they will look to engage with councillors, residents and other stakeholders on potential intervention measures with a view to perhaps trialling any measures that looked promising.

College Road: Traffic count data box connected to traffic recording pneumatic strips.

Obviously, Ward councillors here will be maintaining a close watch on developments here and insist on clear and extensively analysed consultation on any proposals arising.

Anything new in the interim will be reported here.

TL  11.11.2022

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by | August 18, 2022 · 08:23

Gillette Building Tour

Bonnington Gillette Corner Hotel 2006 unrealised proposal

When Gillette owners, Proctor and Gamble, shifted the last of the Syon Lane production line to Łodz in 2006, the 42,000 square metre site was sold to Bonnington, the Ireland based international hotel and leisure firm.  It had ambitions for an office park and a 500 bed hotel, later reduced to 300 beds then eventually none when the system of capital tanked in the late noughties and loans from the Allied Irish Bank could not be repaid.

More modern manufacturing plant used for film production

The site, is much more extensive than the three Grade II Listed elements of the Bannister Fletcher 1936 factory and office building, WFC Holden’s 1935 bank and the four separate cheeky cherubs lamp standards fronting Syon Lane.  It extends beyond Syon Lane to include the former Pernod House on its corner with Great West Road and Harlequin Avenue making up the rear where later manufacturing buildings are now used for film production.

Extensive and uninterrupted space within the Grade II listed main building

After Bonnington, the whole site was bought after 2013 by the firm involved with the former EMI plant at Hayes, the Vinyl Factory Limited.  They now say that applications to develop, extend and enhance existing film production and associated activities on the whole site are soon to be submitted to Hounslow Council, preserving the integrity of the listed elements there.

A chance discussion with Mr Matthew Rees, Hounslow Council’s Head of Planning Development, whilst visiting the former Williams Dye Works site recently, satisfied an eight year quest and yielded contact details for the Gillette Building owners.  Arrangements for a tour for Isleworth and Brentford Area Forum (IBAF) Councillors followed, made for 5 August 2022; people from Osterley and Wyke Green Residents Association and Brentford Voice were invited too.

Main staircase to be restored subject to planning

The last time I went inside Gillette’s was in 1992 on a tour with my Acton College tutor group which also coincided with the planning application for building a Tesco store on the United Biscuits factory site.  The event was an opportunity to nose, more than anything else, interesting to see the unfinished en suites on the first floor facing Syon Lane.

West facing ground floor former manufacturing hall

Planning applications are awaited but the developer has agreed to run a series of pre planning exhibitions and meetings on site in the run up to formal submission, perhaps later this year.  As a member of the Hounslow Council Planning Committee, I shall be unable to make comment once proposals are lodged.

Main building, Listed south facing elevation towards th Bank

I do know, however, that my Ward colleagues Councillors Aftab Siddiqui and Unsa Chaudri are keen that any film production enhancement at Gillette opens up valuable work and training opportunities for the people of Osterley and Spring Grove as well as other parts of our borough.  The owners are now briefed on the quality, practical learning delivered at West Thames College associated with digital film making, make up, hair and construction and we have put them in touch with college Principal Tracey Aust.

West facing elevation with Gillette Tower Clock under repair

Further reports will follow as and when.  Look out for an item on the Gillette Tower clock restoration currently taking place, coming soon.

TL 18.8.2022

 

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by | July 15, 2022 · 11:20

Short stay shoppers parking

Whilst the free 30 minutes ‘Stop and Shop’ parking (1 hour at South Street) has not been abandoned at London Road and Thornbury Road shopping parades, Hounslow Council has begun to remove the pay and display machines that dispense the paper stickers.

Parking advice change at London Road, Isleworth

Traders at Osterley Village on Thornbury Road, north of Great West Road first brought this to Osterley and Spring Grove Ward councillors’ attention when the signs began to go up late May 2022.  Residents and traders around London Road followed suit and OWGRA also received correspondence.

Shoppers are now asked to record their arrival on a previously downloaded mobile phone app, including the free parking period.  For the technology savvy, this would not be hard to do but our Ward does have a larger proportion of older residents, often carers, using their cars to reach local pharmacies, the launderette, supermarkets, Osterley Bookshop for a greeting card or stamps, the paper shop, Memories of India for a takeaway for example.

To an extent, one of our (retired) residents does agree with the new approach and wrote, “for the avoidance of doubt, I believe that the digital solution being adopted by the council makes sense for all except those who have less ability to access or use digital tech.”

Clarity on the new policy was sought from Mr Jefferson Nwokeoma, the chief officer whose department runs parking and were advised that a cashless system provides savings in machine maintenance and repair costs and secures the income received.  Conscious that, for some, the cashless system remains a challenge, councillors were advised that officers would provide information and communicate to enable residents to adapt to this change.

Osterley and Spring Grove Ward councillors are seeking an equitable solution which understands the demographic and some of the unique services available in our area.  The matter has been raised and discussed with council’s cabinet member for parking, Councillor Salman Shaheen.  He has asked officers to identify and work with one or two parades traders who would be able to provide an alternative free ticketing option and will get back to us.

TL  15.7.2022

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by | May 7, 2022 · 14:41

The Red Hedge

Osterley and Spring Grove Ward Councillors Tony Louki, Unsa Chaudri and Aftab Siddiqui

Happy to provide a local update after Thursday’s poll in Osterley and Spring Grove.  The 34% of voters who turned out, and, for the first time in successive elections, helped return three Labour Party councillors to represent the borough’s biggest and greenest Ward.

Here are the results from 5 May 2022,

Osterley and Spring Grove Ward results from 5 May 2022

Tony Louki, first elected here in 2014 and Unsa Chaudri from 2018. This week we were joined by Northumberland Estate resident Aftab Siddiqui.  An already active resident, we’ll help further develop him the Osterley and Spring Grove Ward way.

Always around, trying to represent our residents.

TL 7.5.2022

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